Riverbend Plantation Virtual Tour

Monday, November 23, 2009

About 250 Houston County parents attended a meeting Thursday night to discuss a rezoning plan drawn up because of the opening of Veterans High School. Some of these attendees were our very own Riverbend Plantation residents Amy Williams and Brandee Cleghorn. Thanks to all who attended but keep the rally going!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Don't forget this weeks public forum to discuss VHS zoning. Are you happy that we are zones to WRHS? If not - let your voice be heard!

What Can YOU Do?- Keep informed by checking hcbe.net and Riverbend plantation websites- Post comments and questions to hcbe.net- Encourage friends and family to visit hcbe site and post comments (Talk it up!)- Please email any comments to rpmiainc@windstream.net or call Byrd and Company at 478-971-2600 to discuss- Plan to attend the one remaining hcbe public hearing (19 Nov @ 7PM - WR High)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Thanks to all of you that have called and Emailed! A few Riverbend residents have called and emails have been received from several others - feedback to date is unanimous - residents seem to be in opposition of the proposed zoning maps. Residents from Southfield, Waterford, and River West share the same opinion. Opposition is for the same reasons: the maps split neighborhoods/schools and are too demographically driven. The RPMIA board believes that joining with other neighborhoods could be an effective way to argue against the maps as a whole, as opposed to one area arguing against them "just because they didn't get what they wanted."

Steps Taken To Date by The RPMIA Inc. Board of Directors:

- A meeting is scheduled tomorrow morning for our board member to meet with Superintendent David Carpenter to discuss maps: process used in creating them, legitimacy of the court order, resident opposition to them, possibility for change, etc.

- Board has already talked to a couple of the HCBE Board Members and will be scheduling meetings with some/or all of them in the next few days.

Potential Next Steps Based Upon Above Meetings:

- Call a meeting of all interested parties along the Thompson Mill Corridor. The purpose being to unite in opposition to the maps and designate members of each subdivision to be primary points of contact.

- Consider circulating a petition, formal plan to lobby HCBE Board members, and the possibility of raising money to hire an attorney to represent the Corridor in this issue.

- Involved residents in the Royal Oaks/Sanderfur Road area have engaged in discussions regarding the possibility of sharing ideas and resources. Joining with them could be an effective way to argue against the maps as a whole, as opposed to one area arguing against them "just because they didn't get what they wanted." Joining forces would help with the costs, if qualified legal representation is attained, it could be expensive.

Monday, November 2, 2009

With the new addition of Veterans High School next year our neighborhood has been zoned for Warner Robins High School. We are the only section of Bonaire that will not be zoned for Veterans High School.

How will this affect you?

Whether you have kids or not – this decision will impact you!

All of our children’s friends that grow up together through Bonaire Elementary and Bonaire Middle will no longer go to school together once they enter High School.

We are part of Bonaire and should be included in Veteran’s zoning with the rest of Bonaire.

We pay high taxes and are in the county. Now that we have a new high school in the county which is close in proximity to us, why should we be sent to Warner Robins High School?

Many kids will be bused in from across town to Warner Robins High. We are being used for diversifying “socio-economic” status, as stated in the Telegraph on Wednesday.

Per Mr. Thublin (assistant superintendent for finance & business ops) at rezoning forum on 27 Oct, the primary reasons for the Thompson Mill communities being zoned to WR high were the following:

Each school zone needs to have a “growth zone” for their population – we are one of the few now zoned for WR

The goal (per a verbal recommendation from the Dept of Justice in 2004) was to have each school contain 36% African-American students (+/- 10%). He stated that our predominately Caucasian communities would drive down the average at Veterans (if we were added) to below the 26% threshold.

Don’t have school age kids?

What about future potential homebuyers – they may have kids, how will this zoning decision impact potential homebuyers perception and decision making?

Perception is reality – potential home buyers will more than likely want their children to attend the high school w/ the newest and best (perceived) resources.

If we are the only section of Bonaire zoned differently, houses may not sell as well in our subdivisions.

There is a group of us that would like to lobby for a zoning change from the current proposed status of Warner Robins High School to Veterans High School. We cannot do it alone, please let your voice be heard!

The RPMIA Inc. Board of Directors is interested in your opinion on this issue. Please email any comments to rpmiainc@windstream.net or call Byrd and Company at 478-971-2600 to discuss.

If a majority of our residents either support or oppose the HCBE zoning maps, the Association could take formal action in support of or in opposition to these maps. Please let us know what you think!